The member representing the Kaltungo West constituency in Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon Bashir Yakubu Barau has defected from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and joined the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).
Khamisu Ahmad Mailantarki, the NNPP’s governorship candidate in Gombe State, welcomed Barau to the party.
With his defection, the NNPP has now emerged as the minority party in the Gombe State House of Assembly as the party now has four seats while the Peoples Democratic Party has three seats.
With the development, the NNPP will consequently produce the minority caucus of the House.
The lawmaker said his decision to join the NNPP was in the best interest of the state, adding that both APC and PDP lack the requisite leadership qualities to unite and develop the state.
Angry APC and PDP members have been defecting to the NNPP since Mailantarki emerged as the NNPP governorship candidate.
It may be recalled that the NNPP’s representation in the State House of Assembly grew as a result of the earlier defection of three state legislators—two from the APC and one from the PDP.
A former councillor and four former deputy chairmen from Billiri, Kwami, and Nafada recently joined the NNPP.
Two former deputy chairs of the Billiri local government, one each from the Kwami and Nafada local governments, and one councilor from the Tall ward of the Billiri local government are among the defectors.